Refrigerating apparatus



Aug. 14, 1934.

Original Filed Oct. 51, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR MU/VD Z: A m/f ATTORNEY$ Aug. 14, 1934. E. E. ALLYNE REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Original Filed Oct. 31 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEY$ E. E. ALLYNE REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Aug. 34, 1934.

3 sheets-sheet 5 Original Filed Oct. 3 1931 [Ya Mafia Z1414 YX/FNTOR ATTORN EYS Patented Aug. 14, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT; A OFFICE Application October 31, 1931, Serial No. 572,326 Renewed June 7, 1933 8 Claims. ((31. 62-118) The invention disclosed in this application relates to refrigerating apparatus of the absorption type.

One object of the invention is to provide a combined impounded and running water cooling system for the condenser as well as for the rectifler and loop.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a unique form of evaportor storage, freezing coil and freezing unit including a brine tank, whereby a minimum amount of heat is permitted to be conveyed to the freezing coil from the storage, thereby avoiding an undue rise in temperature in the box during the heating period. This freezing unit is also provided with a suitable regulating means for regulating the circulation of heated air past the outer walls of the brine tank.

A still further improvement resides in still another form of freezing unit and freezing coil arrangement, wherein the evaporator storage is connected to the freezing coil by a relatively small neck provided with a diaphragm or plate, to which is secured the freezing unit including a brine tank, the brine tank being sealed to the plate and the air circulating casing therearound being removably secured to the plate and provided with automatic air control means.

The invention is well set forth in the following description, drawings and claims.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 is a rear elevation of the box; Fig. 2 is a vertical section from front to back through the still and showing the parts in elevation and in section; Fig. 2 is a detail view in section showing the up leg of the loop with its spiral baflle; Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view showing one type of freezing unit; Fig. 4 is a sectional plan of this freezing unit; Fig. 5 is a detail view of the connection between the gas pipe and the condenser pipe and the evaporator storage; Fig. 6 is a. detail view partly in section and partly in elevation showing the overflow from the water tank and the heat radiating connection between this overflow and one of the tubes of the rectifier; Fig. 6' is a detail sectional view of the water supply control; Fig. 7 is a sectional view'upon the line 7-7 of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a horizontal section through the water tank and also through the condenser; Fig. 9 is a front view partly in section showing a modified form of freezing unit; Fig. 10 is a side elevation; Fig. 11 is a plan view taken just inside of the upper ceiling of the inner refrigerator shell; and Fig. 12 is a detail view showing the motor means for operating the damper in this outside shell.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents a rectangular angle frame provided with suitable legs 2 adapted to rest on the floor and support the frame thereabove. This frame is open and is adapted to permit air to pass up through the center into the casing.

Supported upon this frame 1 is a cabinet shell comprising two'outer sides 3, a removable back wall 4 and a front wall 5 provided with a lower opening 6 leading to an apparatus compartment, and an upper front opening, indicated at 7, lead ing to the refrigerating compartment. This compartment comprises a rectangular outer shell 8 open at the top and adapted to be closed by an outer top plate 9. The back 10 of the rectangular outer shell is spaced from the removable cabinet back 4 to provide a flue up the back from the apparatus compartment formed in the cabinet below thebottom of the outer shell 8 to the atmosphere at the top of the cabinet. Within, and spaced from, the outer shell is an inner shell 11, also open at its top and closed by a plate 12. A suitable insulating medium is arranged in the space between these shells. The upper plate 9 is open at 13 clear across the back to form an exit for the up draft through the flue. The flue, formed between the extension of the sides and the back 4, is divided by a vertical partition 14, which extends down a short distance below the bottom of the outer shell 8 of the refrigerating compartment into a main flue portion 14' for the condenser and water tank and anauxiliary flue portion 14" for piping and rectifier. The top 12 of the inner shell 11 is preferably spaced a considerable distance from the top 9 of the box to provide a space 15 for the evaporator storage which is buried in insulating material in said space.

The refrigerating circuit, as stated, is of the absorption type and includes a still-absorber 16 preferably arranged to the rear and right in the apparatus compartment 1 so. that it is near the flue formed at the back of the cabinet. Extending upward from the top of the still is a still trap hairpin loop comprising the up leg 17, the upper return bend 18 and the down leg 19, the latter entering a water seal trap casing 20 located in'the flue portion 14" at the back of the cabinet. This down leg 19 extends to a point near the bottom of the trap casing, as shown in Fig. 1, and below the level of the liquid therein. Extending from a point near the top of this trap casing 20, to form a level of liquid therein, is a gas return and liquid conduit 21 extending downward below the still and entering one up leg 22 of a cooling loop. Thisup leg extends into the boiler and is in communication with the distributor pipe 23 of the usual type having perforations 24. This up leg 22 is also in communication with a horizontally disposed loop 25 provided with fins 26 and supported upon the frame 1 below the still. The other end of this loop is provided with a down leg 2'7 in communication with the bottom of the still-absorber.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the gas returning to the trap casing 20, as will appear, may only pass down through the pipe 21 because of the liquid sealing of the down leg 19 of the hairpin loop. In its passage downward it enters the up leg 22 and induces a circulation of still liquor or absorbent in the loop creating a cooling of the still liquor and promoting absorption and refrigeration. During the heating period there is no circulation through the loop.

Communicating with the top of the trap casing 20 is a rectifier pipe connection 28 leading to a rectifier comprising three tubes 29, as shown in detail in Fig. '7. These three tubes 29 extend across the top of the main flue 14 and are joined in a single pipe 30 which enters a T-shaped evaporator connection 31 connected to a downwardly extending evaporator gas pipe 32 leading to the top of the evaporator storage 33. The evaporator storage is provided with a downwardly extending neck 34 leading to a horizontally disposed freezing grid loop or coil 35 located below the plate 12 and inside of the refrigerating chamber, the storage 33 being located in the insulation above the refrigerating chamber. The terminal rectifier pipe 30 enters one of the through connections of the evaporator connection 31 while the condenser pipe 36 enters the other and has an end portion 3'? projecting toward the evaporator in the inclined evaporator pipe 32. This pipe 32 continues in the opposite direction down to the top of a condenser coil 38. The opposite lower end of this condenser coil extends down into a sump 39 formed at the extreme lower end of a condenser storage 40. This condenser storage comprises a lower relatively large tubular member 40 and side vertical 45 legs 41 and 42 closed at their upper ends and in 4 communication with this portion 40.

Extending down into the evaporator neck 34 and into the bottom of the refrigerating grid or loop 35 is one end of a drain pipe 43 which loops up at 44 above the evaporator storage and then extends through the partition 14 and into the auxiliary flue 14", thence down and connects with the gas return pipe 21 at a point indicated at 45, which is substantially at or slightly above the normal level of the still liquor at the end of the refrigerating cycle.

It will be seen from the foregoing, that at the beginning of the heating period, the heat produces a pressure in the still together with an evaporation of the ammonia gas. There will also be a tendency for boiler liquor to rise in the gas and liquid return pipe 21, such rise depending upon the height of liquor in the trap casing 20 which reflects a water sealing column in the down leg 19 of the hairpin loop from the still. Ammonia gas, in order to pass through this loop to the trap casing must displace a volume of trap liquor in the lower end of the down leg 19, thence the hydrostatic pressure produced by this volume of liquor in the down leg determines the rise of the boiler liquor in the liquid and gas return pipe 21. In any event, there is a rise of liquor at the point 45 which seals the still end of the drain pipe 42. The upper end of this drain pipe is also sealed by any boiled over absorbent or left over refrigerant in the freezing grid or loop 35. As the pressure in the system gradually builds up, the gas trapped in the drain between these two seals is compressed until the liquor in the evaporator passes over the loop 44 and drains to the still. Finally the upper seal is broken and gaseous medium passes at higher pressure into the drain by the breaking of the upper seal. If additional liquor were present in the evaporator freezing grid or loop and suflicient pressure were created in the system to again compress the new gaseous medium in the drain between the upper and lower seals, a further draining would take place, but in the meantime before such action could take place sufficient ammonia has been driven from the still to depress the liquor level in the still to such an extent that the lower seal is now broken and further draining is prevented.

As the heating goes on, the ammonia gas is forced past the trap through the rectifier pipes 29 to the T connection 31. Here, while it may pass to a certain extent toward the evaporator storage, this course is without any great tendency toward circulation due to back pressure from the evaporator and it takes the easier course and passes directly to the condenser pipe 36 and to the condenser where it is condensed and accumulates in the condenser storage. When the heating period is over, any drop in pressure will cause the liquefled ammonia to pass up through the pipe 36 to the connection 37 which directs the liquefled ammonia down into the evaporator storage and freezing grid. As evaporation of the liquefied ammonia continues, it passes back through the rectifler to the top of the trap casing 20 and since it may not pass up through the hairpin down pipe 19 which is liquid sealed, it passes down through the gas return pipe 21 to the up leg of the loop as previously described.

It will be seen from the foregoing description, that the evaporator is out on a spur from the circulation of the gas from the still to the condenser and there is no tendency toward circulating this heated gas in the evaporator storage and its freezing grid or loop. Hence very little, if any, heat adapted to receive the entire condenser including the coil 38 and the storage, the sump 39 resting upon the bottom. This water tank contains a quantity of water which may be circulated by a water inlet 4'? connected to any suitable source of water supply on the one hand and to a pipe 48 leading down to a point near the bottom of the tank on the other. Near the top and near the center rectifier tube 29 is an outlet 49 connected to a down pipe fitting 50 which telescopes into a drain pipe 51 leading down to a loop or the like 52, arranged in the fins 26 of the still loop 25. The end of this loop has a suitable raised drainage outlet 53, Fig. 2, leading to a sewer or any suitable drain.

As stated, the pipe 51 is closely adjacent the center pipe 29 of the rectifier and these two pipes for a considerable length below the overflow connection 50 are enveloped in a heat transfer casing 54 of oval shape and including flanges 55 adapted to be bolted together by suitable bolts, indicated at 56. This casing provides for the exchange of heat from the central rectifier tube 29 to the runwater during rectification is not entirely cold since it is from the top of the water tank where it has risen in temperature after being heated by the condenser. This is an advantageous feature because it permits the cooling of the rectifier without too great a reduction in its temperature which might result in condensation of useful refrigerant in the rectifier.

In. Figs. 3 and 4 one arrangement of freezing unit is shown. It comprises a main outer shell 57 provided with an upper flange 58 seating upon a gasket 59 arranged against the top 12 of the refrigerating compartment. It is held in place by screws, not shown. This main shell 57 contains brine which touches or envelops the freezing grid or loop 35. Within the main shell 57 is an inner shell 60 which opens out at the front of the freezing unit and is adapted to form an ice cube compartment 61, the arrangement ofthe inner and outer shells is such that a suitable tank space is provided between these two shells for the brine solution. The front and the rear edges of the brine tank thus formed are flanged, as at 62 and between these flanges are suitable side damper plates 63 pivoted near the top, as at 64, and in spaced relation with respect to the side walls of the outer shell 57 so that air spaces or flues 65 are formed for the passage of heated air from the refrigerating compartment about the brine tank. At the bottom these dampers are secured to links 66 and 67 which are pivoted to an operating lever 68, at 69 and 70, respectively. Between these two points, 69 and 70, is a pivot 71 for the operating lever. The lever projects out at the front where the operator may manipulate it by drawing the dampers 63 inward toward the sides of the outer shell of the brine tank arrangement and the transfer of heat from the air of the box to the freezing unit will be retarded and vice versa.

In Figs. 9, 10, 11 and 12, another form of freezing unit is shown wherein the brine tank is enclosed in an outer shell, indicated at 72, having a suitable opening 73 leading to the ice cube compartment therein. This outer shell is provided with an upper draft opening 74 and a lower draft opening or duct 75, controlled by a damper 76 provided with an operating lever 77 adapted to be actuated by the long arm 78 of a lever pivoted at 79 and having a short arm 80 adapted to be actuated by a suitable thermo element 81 arranged in the bottom of the outer shell 72. This shell is provided with upper lateral flanges 82 adapted to be engaged by suitable retaining rods 83 pivoted at the rear, as at 84, to the ceiling 12 of the refrigerating compartment and arranged to swing under the flanges 82 to hold the outer shell in place. The forward ends are slotted, as at 85, to engage suitable pins 86.

In place of an ordinary connection between the inlet 47 and the pipe 48, a thermally controlled valve may be employed and it comprises a casing 87 having a valve seat 88 between an inlet chamber 89 in communication with the connection 47 and a discharge chamber 90 communieating with the pipe 48-. This valve seat is also provided with a tubular valve stem guide 91 adapted to receive the squared valve stem 92 slidably mounted therein. This valve stem is provided with a valve 93 engaging a seat 88. In the inside of the casing 87 and in alignment with the valve stem 92 is a bellows 94 connected by a tube 95 with a thermo element 98 arranged in a well in the still 16, see Fig. 2. A suitable spring 97 surrounds the guide 91. When the still reaches a predetermined temperature the thermo element 96 causes the bellows 94 to expand, opening the water inlet valve 93 and permitting running water to pass the square valve into the chamber 90 and down into the water tank. Up to this time the system has been operating for cooling purposes on impounded water in the tank, but after the valve is open running water assists in cooling the system.

In Fig. 2, the up leg 22 is provided internally with a spiral baflie 98 arranged between the gas return pipe 21 and the bottom of the still 16. This spiral baflle is used for its effect upon the rising bubbles of returning gas to prevent their producing a gurgling noise during the refrigerating period.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In absorption refrigerating apparatus, a still-absorber, evaporator and condenser connected in operative cycle, a water tank, means for supplying water to the bottom of said tank, an overflow connected to the upper part of said tank, a loop connected with said still-absorber, cooling flns carried by said loop, and a drain pipe arranged in the fins of said loop and connected to said overflow pipe from said water tank.

2. In absorption refrigerating apparatus, a still-absorber part, an evaporator part and condenser part, conduit means connecting said parts in the order mentioned, said condenser comprising a book-shaped coil connected at its top to the evaporator and still-absorber, and a tubular U-shaped storage connected to the bottom of said condenser coil and nesting about said coil.

3. Absorption refrigerating apparatus as in claim 2, wherein the condenser storage comprises a tubular bottom member and tubular side members extending up along the sides of the condenser coil.

4. In absorption refrigerating apparatus, a still-absorber, evaporator and condenser connected in operative cycle, a loop below said stillabsorber and in circulation therewith by means of an up leg and down leg, 9. gas return pipe leading to said up leg, and baflle means in said up leg between the gas return pipe and the still-absorber.

5. Absorption refrigerating apparatus as in claim 4, wherein said baflle means is in the form of a spiral.

8. In an absorption cycle refrigerating apparatus, a still-absorber, evaporator and condenser connected in operative cycle, a heat exchanger in closed circuit with said still-absorber, a gas return in communication with said heat exchanger and a bathe in said heat exchanger circuit.

7. In an absorption cycle refrigerating system, a still, an evaporator, and a condenser connected in operative cycle, a. depending loop in closed communication with said still, a gas return from said system leading to said loop,.and a spiral bailie in said loop lying between said gas return and the still.

8. In an absorption cycle refrigerating system, a still, an evaporator, and a condenser connected in operative cycle, a depending finned cooling loop in closed communication with said still, a gas return conduit leading to said cooling loop and a surge bailie in the loop positioned between the gas return conduit and the up leg of the loop. 

